Door lock



Feb- 9 l937- J. TURNER 2,070,149

DOOR LO CK Filed May 17, 1954 .....niul

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 17,1934,

Claims.

This invention relates to latch and lock mechanism for doors.

One object of the invention is to simplify the latch construction so asto reduce the number of parts which must be made specially and to useparts which are standard commercial products employed generally for avariety of purposes. To this end the latching element, as well ascertain other elements, are formed as balls.

A further object is to provide a construction which is mainly tubular inform so that no mortising of the door or door jarnb is necessary,requiring only that a round hole be bored in each for the main portionsof the mechanism.

A still further object is to produce a lock for automobile doors and thelike by which the door is secured at a plurality of points, theconstructions being similar at all of these points.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a detail horizontalsection through the cooperating parts of the lock in the door and jamband showing a lock particularly suitable ior a house door.

Figure 2 is a detail section on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 2, but showing theparts in released position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1, but showing amodified construction.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the escutcheon plate of the lock showingthe handle in position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary central vertical section through this plateand associated parts.

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing the arrangement fora barrel key-actuated lock.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the barrel lock.

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 5, but showing the key-actuatedlock of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure l1 is a fragmentary section showing a 'i multiple lock,particularly suitable for application to a motor vehicle door, thesection being taken on line II-II of Figure 13.

Figure 12 is a View similar to a portion of Figure l1, but showing thelatch released.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section through the portion of the motorVehicle door lock for the right hand front door.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, but for the left hand door ordoors of the vehicle,

Serial No. '726,063

(Cl. 'l0- 29) Figure 15 is a detail section on line I5-I5 of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary detail showing a manner of securing theescutcheon plate suitable for motor vehicle doors. 5

In the accompanying figures, FiguresV 1 to 10 show a constructionparticularly suitable for use with house doors and this form of theinvention will be first described. Referring first to Figures l, 2, and3, at I is indicated a tubular casing which may be set in the door 2 inan opening bored therein as by a suitable auger. This casing I isprovided with an outer end portion 3 of reduced internal diameter. Itsinner end portion is closed as by means of a plug 4. This tubular casingslidably encloses a pair of elements shown as balls 5 and 6, the ball 5being adapted to project partly through the end portion 3 of the tubularcasing, but being retained by the reduced diameter portion thereof fromescape, the ball 5 being shown in its projected position in Figures l,2, 3 and 4. In this projected position the ball 5 may cooperate with alatch keeper I0, which, in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 is providedwith a latch plate II provided with an opening I2 into which the ball 5may extend so as to latch the door in closed position. This latch plateII may be provided with the usual inclined portion I3 against which theball 5 may impinge when the door is being closed.

Between the balls 5 and 6 is shown positioned a relatively light springI5. This spring bears at its ends against the peripheries of the balls 5and 6 and is unsecured in the casing I. Cooperating with the ball 6remote from the ball 5 is a cam 20 shown as carried by a rock shaft 2|square in cross section. This rock shaft 2| extends through the doortransversely of the casing I and may be provided at opposite ends withsuitable actuating handles 22. The cam 20 has an eccentric cam face 25,which, when the shaft 2l is in its normal angular position, bearsagainst the ball 6 in the position shown in Figure 2, forcing this ballagainst the ball 5 and the ball 5 projected through the reduced endportion 3 of the casing, and when the door is in closed position, asshown in Figure 2, this holds the ball 5 in operative relation to thekeeper so that the door cannot be opened except by the use ofextraordinary force. By rocking the cam to the position shown in Figure3, however, the ball B is permitted to retract from the ball 5 under theaction of the spring I5, whereupon the ball 5 is yieldingly held in itsoutward position so that by exerting opening force on the door it may be55 'at one the spring l5. As shown this means comprises a third ball 38also slidably mounted in the casing l and engaged by a spring 3l whichreacts be- 30 and the closure plug 4 at the inner end of the casing. Byusing -a springl .of greater strength than spring l5 the Yoperatinghandle is normally held in door-latched position, but the handle may beturned to therele'asing position shown in Figure 3, pressing the ball 38.rearwardly Atoward the casing closure 4, whereupon the ball 5 isretained only by the spring -|5 lin projected position. The ball 3D,pressed `t'orward lby the relatively strong spring 3|, normally holdsthe cam 25 turned to the position shown in Figure 2. The obliqueengagement of the ball 5 on the keeper plate I8 is such that the-friction is too great to permit a pull on the door to :rock the cam,which is nearly in an absolute locking position, backwardl-y, but itpermits the door to be slammed shut from open position, the 13211135riding up the more gradually inclined latch vplate 40 and through theball 6, forcing the cam 2-.5 to turn backwardly.

In Figure 4 is shown a modified form of latch 'keeper which may beadjusted in accordance with `any shrinking or swelling of the door ordoor jamb so that it may be made to cooperate properly with the doorlatch. As shown in -this ligure, it comprises a member 35 having atubular portion 36 'which may y'be extended into a tubular socket 31bored into lthe door lamb 38. A spring 39 may be `positioned in thesocket 31 bearing between the "base of Athe socket and the back face ofthe portion 36. The member 35 may be provided with the usual curved orinclined latch plate 46. Screws, such as 4I which pass through the baseof the portion 36, and 42 which pass through the 'latch plate portion,may be used to secure the keeper to the jamb, the extent to which thesescrews are screwed home determining the amount o which the portion 36projects into the socket 31. By 'backing off on these screws the spring39 causes 'the latch keeper to move outwardly. Thus by manipulation ofthese screws the keeper may be adjusted to the proper position for bestcooperation with the door latch.

Means may be provided for holding the rock shaft 2| ,in position to holdthe door closed, preventing turning of either of the handles 22 toVdoor-releasing position. As shown best in Fig- `ures 5 to 10, this maybe done by providing in a recess 40 on the back face of the escutcheonplate 4| which is secured to one or both faces of the door, a lockingslide 42 provided with a notch 43 end which can be projected to engagethe squared rock shaft 2 l. As shown best in Figures 6, 7 and 8, thisplate 42 may be secured to the escutcheon plate by means of a slot andscrew as `at 45, so that it may be slid lengthwise into ror yout ofcooperative relation to the shaft 2l.

Where it is desired to accomplishv this without the use of a key, theplate 42 may be secured as by a screw 46 to a slide piece 41 which maybe engaged by the fingers, this screw 46 passing through a slot 48 inthe escutcheon plate. When this finger piece 41 is in its downwardposition, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the slide 42 is in unlockedposition, but by raising this linger slide 41, the plate 42 is moved toengage about the rock shaft 2l so that the shaft 2l may be preventedfrom turning and be held in the position shown in Figures l and 2. Incase it is desired to actuate the locking plate 42 by means of a key, a.suitable key-actuated lock, herein shown as of the barrel type, at 56,may be secured to the escutcheon plate and have its operating part =5lextended through a slot 52 in the lock slide as shown in Figures 8 and9.

llI/nl'igures 11 to 15 is shown a construction particularly suitable foruse on motor vehicle doors. Referring iirst to Figure 1l, a plurality oflocksmay be provided spaced along the length of the door, it beinghighly desirable to effect a secure fastening of a motor vehicle door toproduce locking engagement at more than one place along its length. Tothis end any desired number of similar latch mechanisms may be employed.Each, as shown in this figure, comprises a tubular casing 66 having areduced internal diameter end portion 6l and slidably supporting thereinthe balls l5 and 6 with their interposed spring l5. These parts `may becontrolled as in the construction shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, the twoballs being pressed together with the ball 5 projecting and the maytrated the key-actuated door where it is desired -J to permitkey-unlocking from the outside and hand-unlocking from the inside. Tothis end the latch actuating means is provided with two alined actuatingrock shafts 65 and 66. 'Ihe shaft 65 has secured 61 and the shaft 66 isprovided with the outer actuating handle 68. Fixed to the shaft 65 andextending through the door frame member 10 is a rock arm 1I, whilesecured to the rock shaft 66 is a similar arm 12. cut away at 13 attheir rear ends so as to engage on either side of a cam bar 14. This cambar, as shown in Figure 11, is provided with a cross pin 15 on one endof which the arm 1I may impinge and on the other of which the arm 12 mayPreferably each of these arms has a notch portion 16 at its rear endinto which they pin 15 may engage at suitable times. In order that theangular extent of rocking motion of the handles to operate the latchesthe arms 1l and 12 are extended lengthwise so that it may beinconvenient for the cam bar 14 to directly engage with the ball 6, andto provide for this extended length one or more ller elements betweenthe cam bar and the balls 6 such as the balls 88 may be employed, eachslidable within its casing 50 and bearing between the cam bar 14 and theball 6. Thus the balls 5, 6 and 88 may all be of the same size, eachbeing slidable within its tubular casing 60.

' The cam bar 14 is slidable transversely through the several casings 68and is provided with cam face portions 8| and 82 which merge with eachother. In the position of the cam bar shown in Figure 1l, the camportions 8! of the cam impinge.

thereto the inner actuating handle These arms are shown as may bereduced,

r a tubular casing bar 'Hi bear against the balls 8B and press the ballsSe, E and close together, the balls 5 being projected beyond the edge ofthe door, and when the door is closed, into locking engagement with thekeepers 85. By rocking either of the handles i'l or 68, however, theirrespective rock arms ll or 'l2 may be pressed downwardly to depress thelatch bar 14 so that the balls 3E may engage on the cam portions 82, asshown in Figure 12, permitting the springs l5 to separate the balls 5and This permits the balls 5 to be sprung hack into their casings andpermits the door to open when pressure is exerted thereon in an openingdirection.` t will be noted that either of the handles El or (i8 maybeoperated independently of the other to produce such action. The cambar T4 is normally held in its locking position as by means of thespring 99, shown in Figure 11., which as shown reacts between a pin elextending transversely ci the latch bar and one of the casings ill. Theouter door handle E8 may be provided with a key-actuated lock so thatthe rocking of this handle 63 to doorreleasing position may beprevented. Such a lock may comprise the slidable locking plate 92similar to the locking plate e2 shown in Figure 8 and similarlyactuated. Y

In order to prevent anyone from breaking off the handle 68 and thusgaining access to the locking plate, the escutcheon plate '95 on theoutside of the door may be made heavy, housing the lock barrel, and thehandle and plate may be formed with cooperating faces at 5l and 98 (Fig.15) which limit the extent of rocking motion of the handle, these heavycooperating parts acting to effectually prevent breaking off of thehandle and unauthorized access to the lock parts.

The other doors of the motor vehicle which are not key-actuated may beformed as shown in Figure 14 with a single rock shaft liiii extendingentirely therethrough to which is secured a single cam bar actuating armlill having a slot le?. through which the cam bar 14 passes, a suitablemanually actuable lock plate being provided on the inner face oi thedoor as shown at m3 which may be of the type shown in Figures 5, 6, and7.

As shown in escutcheon plate a5 on the outside of the motor vehicledoors may be secured in position by screws as HB5 passing through thedoor from the inside and engaging therein so that there is no means onthe outside oi the door accessible for removing parts and obtainingaccess to the lock mechanism.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this inventionit should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof this invention as dened by the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing havingan end portion of reduced internal diameter, a pair of balls slidablytting said casing, one of which balls may project through said portionfor latching engagement with a latch plate, a spring tending to separatesaid balls, and cam means operatively engageable with the other of saidballs remote from said one ball and actuable to force said ballstogether and said one ball projecting through said portion, or to permitsaid balls to separate through the action of said spring.

2. A device of the class described, comprising having an end portion ofreduced internal diameterja pair of balls slidably tting said casing,one of which balls may project through said portion for latchingengagement with a latch plate, a spring tending to separate said balls,cam means operatively engageable with the other of said `balls remotefrom said one ball and actuable to force said balls together and saidone ball projecting through said portion, or to permit said balls toseparate through the action of said spring, and yielding means ofgreater strength than said spring nor* mally holding said cam means insaid first-mem tioned position.

3. A` device of the class described, comprisin a tubular casing havingan end rportion of reduced internal diameter, a pair of balls slidablein said casing and retained therein by said end portion through whichthe next adjacent ball may project to cooperate with a latch plate, acoil spring within said casing and between said balls tending toseparate said balls, cam means operatively engaging the other of saidballs remote from said one ball to press said balls together and saidnext adjacent ball projecting from said casing or to permit said ballsto sepn arate under the action of said spring, and manual means foractuating said cam means.

4. A device of a tubular casing having an end portion of reducedinternal diameter, a pair of balls slidable in said casing and retainedtherein by said end portion through which the next adjacent ball mayproject to cooperate with a latch plate, a coil spring within saidcasing and between said balls tending to separate said balls, cam meansoperatively engaging the other of said balls to press said ballstogether and said next adjacent ball projecting from said casing or topermit said balls to separate under the action of said spring, manualmeans for actuating said cam means, and yielding means normally holdingsaid cam means in the first-mentioned position.

5. A- device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing havingan internally reduced end portion, a pair of elements slidably mountedin said casing, one of said elements having a portion projectablethrough said reduced end portion and the other of said elements being aball, a spring within said casing between and supported by said elementstending to force said elements apart, and means actuable at will on saidball element and remote from the other of said elements to force saidelements together with said portion of said one element projecting fromsaid casing, or to permit said elements to separate under the action ofsaid spring.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing havingan internally reduced end portion, a pair of elements slidably mountedin said casing and limited by said casing to move in the same lineardirection, one of said elements having a portion projectable throughsaid reduced end portion and thc other of said elements being a ball, aspring within said casing between and supported by said elements tendingto force said elements apart, and means actuable at will on said ballelement and remote from the other ci said elements to force saidelements together with said portion of said one element projecting fromsaid casing, or to permit said elements to separate under the action ofsaid spring.

'7. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing havinga reduced internal diameter end portion, a pair of balls slidablycarried in said casing, a coil spring in said casing the classdescribed, comprising between and supported by said balls and tending toseparate said balls and project a portion of one of said balls throughsaid end portion to cooperate with a latch plate, a cam bearing on theother of said balls, a shaft carrying said cam, said cam being shaped tocause rocking of said shaft in one direction to cause said cam to presssaid other ball toward said one ball and to cause rocking of said shaftin the other direction to retract said cam and to permit said balls toseparate under the action of said spring, a third ball slidable in saidcasing and bearing on the opposite face of said cam, a closure for theopposite end of said casing, and a spring bearing between said closureand said third ball and of greater strength than said first-mentionedspring normally holding said cam in said first-mentioned position.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing having areduced internal diameter end portion, a pair of balls slidably carried'in said casing, a coil spring in said casing between and supported bysaid balls and tending to separate said balls and project a portion ofone of said balls through said end portion to cooperate with a latchplate, a cam bearing on the other of said balls, a shaft carrying saidcam, said cam being shaped to cause rocking of said shaft in onedirection to cause said cam to press said other ball toward said oneball and to cause rocking of said shaft in the other direction toretract said cam and to permit said balls to separate under the actionof said spring, a third ball slidable in said casing and bearing on theopposite face of said cam, a closure for the opposite end of saidcasing, a spring bearing between said closure and said third ball andor" greater strength than said first-mentioned spring normally holdingsaid cam in said rst-mentioned position, and means for locking saidshaft in said rst-mentioned rocked position.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing having areduced internal diameter end portion, a pair of balls slidably carriedin said casing, a coil spring in said casing between and supported bysaid balls and tending to separate said balls and project a portion ofone through said end portion to cooperate with a latch plate, a cam barslidable transversely of said casing and operatively engaging said otherball and having a cam face provided with a portion shaped to force saidballs together with said one ball projecting from said casing andanother portion shaped to permit said balls to separate under the actionof said spring, and means for moving said cam bar.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a, tubular casing havinga reduced internal diameter end portion, a pair of balls slidablycarried in said casing, a coil spring in said casing between andsupported by said balls and tending to separate said balls and projecta, portion of one through said end portion to cooperate with a latchplate, a cam bar slidable transversely of said casing and operativelyengaging said other ball and having a cam face provided with a portionshaped to force said balls together with said one ball projecting fromsaid casing and another portion shaped to permit said balls to separateunder the action of said spring, means for moving said cam bar, andyielding means tending to hold said cam bar with its iirst-mentionedportion in operative position.

l1. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing'havinga reduced internal divrock shaft extending ameter end portion, a pair ofballs slidably carried in said casing, a coil spring in said casingbetween and supported by said balls and tending to separate said ballsand project a portion of one through said end portion to cooperate witha latch plate, a cam bar slidable transversely of said casing andoperatively engaging said other ball and having a cam face provided witha portion shaped to force said balls together with said one ballprojecting from said casing and another portion shaped to permit saidballs to separate under the action of said spring, said casing beingadapted to be carried by a door, a through said door, and an arm carriedby said rock shaft for engagement with said cam bar and actuable onrocking of said shaft from a normal angular position to move said cambar to bring said other portion of said cam bar into operative position.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular casing havinga reduced internal diameter end portion, a pair of balls slidablycarried in said casing, a coil spring in said casing between andsupported by said balls and tending to separate said balls and project aportion of one through said end portion to cooperate with a latch plate,a cam bar slidable transversely of said casing and operatively engagingsaid other ball and having a cam face provided with a portion shaped toforce said balls together With said one ball projecting from said casingand another portion shaped to permit said balls to separate under theaction of said spring, said casing being adapted to be carried by adoor, a pair of alined rock shafts carried by said door, each accessiblefor rocking actuation from one side only of the door, an arm carried byeach rock shaft and independently actuable by turning of its rock shaftfrom a normal angular position to move said cam bar to present saidsecond-mentioned portion into operative position, and means forindependently rocking each of said rock shafts from its normal angularposition.

13. In combination with a door and its jamb, of a plurality of tubularcasings in substantially parallel relation in said door each having areduced internal diameter end portion presented at the door edgeadjacent to said jamb, a pair of balls slidable in each casing, theouter ball of each pair being projectable to extend outwardly of itscasing end for cooperation with a latch keeper on said jamb to hold thedoor closed, a spring between the balls of each pair tending to separatesaid balls, a bar slidably mounted transversely to said casings, saidbar having cani portions operatively associated with the other balls ofeach pair to hold the balls of each pair together in one position ofsaid bar and to permit the balls of each pair to separate in anotherposition of said bar, yielding means tending to hold said bar in saidiirst-mentioned position, and manually actuable means for moving saidbar to the other of said positions.

14. A door latch comprising a tubular casing having an internallyreduced end portion, a pair of elements slidably mounted in said casing,one of said elements being a ball partly projectable through saidreduced end portion, a spring within said casing between and supportedby said elements tending to force said elements apart, and meansactuable at will on the inner of said elements and remote from said ballelement to force said elements together with said ball portionprojecting from said casing, or to permit mais s said elements toseparate under the action of said spring.

15. A door latch comprising a tubular casing having an internallyreduced end portion, a pair of elements slidably mounted in said casingand limited by said casing to move in the same linear direction, one ofsaid elements being a ball and having a portion projectable through saidreduced end portion, a spring Within said casing between and supportedby said elements tending to force said elements apart, and meansactuabie at will on the inner of said elements and remote from said ballelement to force said elements together with said ball portionprojecting from said casing or to permit said elements to separate underthe action of said spring.

JOHN TURNER.

